Oregon: Timeline, Legislation, Court Cases, Industry, and National Impact
Timeline
- 1804: Lewis and Clark Expedition explores Oregon
- 1818: Oregon Country becomes a joint occupation of the United States and Great Britain under the Treaty of 1818
- 1843: Oregon Trail established
- 1846: Oregon Treaty settles the Oregon boundary dispute, dividing the territory between the United States and Great Britain
- 1848: Oregon Territory established
- 1859: Oregon admitted to the Union as the 33rd state
Important Legislation
- Homestead Act of 1862: Granted land to settlers in the Oregon Territory
- Oregon Land Fraud Scandal of 1871: Exposed corruption in the sale of public lands in Oregon
- Oregon School Laws of 1922: Required all children between the ages of 8 and 14 to attend public school
- Oregon Trail Historic Park Bill of 2006: Established a national historic trail commemorating the Oregon Trail
Important Court Cases
- Scott v. Sanford (1857): Overturned the Missouri Compromise and declared that African Americans were not citizens and could not own property
- Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925): Struck down an Oregon law requiring children to attend public school, protecting the right to private and religious education
Major Industry
- Timber and forest products
National Impact
- Oregon’s role in the westward expansion of the United States
- Its economic contributions through timber and agriculture
- Its progressive social and environmental policies, such as the Oregon Trail Historic Park and the Bottle Bill (1971), which established a statewide recycling program